Based at The Watercress Line in Hampshire, 34007 Wadebridge has been out of action after its boiler certificate expired back in 2016, but now, Wadebridge 34007 Locomotive Ltd has announced that the overhaul has begun.
The overhaul will see work split into two with the Watercress Line's engineering works at Ropley and Riley & Son Locomotive Engineers Ltd in Heywood.
Work at the Watercress Line has seen the locomotive dismantled partially and on the 9th of August, the chassis and boiler were sent by road to Heywood, no doubt some lucky people got to catch a glimpse of her journey.
Work being carried out at Riley & Sons will see the repair and re-tube of the boiler, the overhaul of the frames, motion, brakes, springs and cylinders alongside turning the wheels. The most taxing part of the work will see the repair or replacement of the inside cylinder.
Back at the Watercress Line, Ropley will undertake the refurbishment of boiler fittings, cab fittings, copper pipe-work and cladding as well as completing the tender.
Once the work is finished at Riley & Sons and the chassis and boiler are returned, Ropley will then undertake the reassembly, testing, and painting of both the locomotive and tender ahead of her return to service.
The massive project has been specifically designed and executed with the possibility of operating Wadebridge on the main line as well as at her home on the Watercress Line. It is hoped that Wadebridge will be back in action in 2026.
The locomotive is owned by Wadebridge (34007) Locomotive Ltd, with the Watercress Line Heritage Railway Trust being the majority shareholder.
Wadebridge Ltd chair, Stephen Evans has reported that he is ‘Absolutely delighted that Wadebridge is being given a fast-track overhaul. This has been made possible by the locomotive's extraordinarily generous Swiss benefactor, Alex Choremi. Thanks to him and to the teams at Ropley and at Riley's, there is every chance of Wadebridge returning to the front rank of UK operational steam locomotives within four years.'
“The most taxing part of the work will see the repair or replacement of the inside cylinder.” If this is the most taxing part of the work, it would be nice to know what was actually wrong with it!